Marriage ain't what it used to be, according to statistics released today. In 2006 the number of couples tying the knot was its lowest for more than 110 years.

Is it time to pension off marriage? The Centre for Policy Studies says that the government's failure to do more to encourage couples is behind the fall. But is this something the state should promote?

The figures might not be part of a trend - the number of people getting married actually rose between 2002 and 2004 - though there are suggestions that that boost was at least in part due to "visa" marriages. But even so, proponents of wedded bliss have ample cause for concern.